CenterHigh
BBC NewsNews report · Jul 31, 6:42 AM
British man accused of spying on Cyprus RAF base for Iran
accused
Rashad Sultanov, a UK-Azerbaijan national, was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on RAF Akrotiri.
← Today's headlines
7 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 3h ago
Mostly Same
British man accused of spying on Cyprus RAF base for Iran
Most headlines directly report the accusation of spying, with some adding the detail that the British man was "arrested."
1 Left3 Center3 Right
MOSTLY SAME
As of July 31, 2026 at 9:12 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened Rashad Sultanov, a UK-Azerbaijan national, was arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on RAF Akrotiri.
The headline split The headlines are mostly aligned. The differences are small wording choices, not a major framing split.
Match confidence High confidence. 7 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
7 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceMostly same
20/99 — the outlets mostly agree on the headline takeaway.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftBritish man accused of spying for Iran at RAF base arrested in Cyprus
The Independent · Center-left · News report
CenterBritish man accused of spying on Cyprus RAF base for Iran
BBC News · Center · News report
Right / center-rightBritish man arrested after being accused of spying on RAF base for Iran
Daily Express · Right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
CenterMostly Factual
The ScotsmanNews report · Jul 31, 9:12 AM
First British man to dive to the Titanic hosts sessions at London exhibition
Visitors can meet Titanic explorer Dik Barton at the exhibition.
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Jul 31, 8:46 AM
British man accused of spying for Iran at RAF base arrested in Cyprus
accusedarrested
Rashad Sultanov, 44, is being held in custody as extradition proceedings progress
RightMixed
Daily ExpressNews report · Jul 31, 7:48 AM
British man arrested after being accused of spying on RAF base for Iran
arrestedaccused
The arrest follows a probe led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.
CenterMostly Factual
The Straits TimesNews report · Jul 31, 7:41 AM
Man suspected of spying on UK military base for Iran arrested in Cyprus
LONDON, July 31 - A dual British-Azerbaijani national has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a British air base on the Mediterranean island and passing information to Iran's...
RightMixed
The SunNews report · Jul 31, 7:03 AM
‘Taxi driver’, 45, is arrested over ‘spying for Iran’ at RAF base in Cyprus targeted by barrage of drones
A BRITISH "taxi driver" has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran at an RAF base in Cyprus - which was later targeted by drones. Rashad Sultanov, 44 - a dual UK and Azerbaijani nati...
Show all 7 sources
Center-rightHigh
Sky NewsNews report · Jul 31, 5:06 AM
Man arrested in Cyprus in first overseas National Security Act investigation
A man has been arrested in Cyprus as part of the first investigation using the National Security Act in relation to alleged offences in an overseas territory.
Details20/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 7 sources
20/99 Wording GapHigh confidence7 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 7 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Jul 31, 5:06 AM: Sky News joined the source map.
Jul 31, 6:42 AM: BBC News joined the source map.
Jul 31, 7:03 AM: The Sun joined the source map.
Jul 31, 7:41 AM: The Straits Times joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 20/99 and story health is stable · 7 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.